op1Professor Kwabena F.M. Opuni 

Email:                          kfopuni@ug.edu.gh

ORCID:                      https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0003-1653-1458 

Scopus ID:                  https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57205293494 

PubMed:                     https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=opuni%20kf 

Research Gate:            https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kwabena-Opuni-2 

Google Scholar:          https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=KLNLXHAAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao 

Current Research

  1. Mass spectrometric- and biocomputational-based proteomic research 

    i. Development of mass spectrometric epitope mapping methods.

This research work focused on developing electrospray mass spectrometry-based epitope mapping methods in the gas phase. Intact Transition Epitope Mapping – One-step Non-covalent force Exploitation (ITEM-ONE), a mass spectrometric epitope mapping method in which epitopes are identified by the accurate masses of the complex released peptides, was developed. Also, the Intact Transition Epitope Mapping – Targeted High-Energy Rupture of Extracted Epitopes (ITEM-THREE) method identifies epitope peptides by partial amino acid sequencing of the CoRPs rapidly and accurately. In both methods, neither antibodies nor immune complexes are immobilized. Instead, both methods used ion mobility mass spectrometry for ion separation coupled with gas phase dissociation of immune complexes in the mass spectrometer's collision cell. The speed by which ITEM-ONE or ITEM-THREE can be conducted and the low required sample amounts outperform many of the other epitope mapping methods. Intact Transition Epitope Mapping - Thermodynamic Weak-force Order (ITEM-TWO) enables rapid epitope mapping and determination of apparent dissociation energies of immune complexes with minimal in-solution handling and characterizes two most important antibody properties, specificity, and affinity has been developed. ITEM-TWO was used to investigate the influence of a solvent’s composition on the stability of desorbed and multiply charged RNAse S ions by analyzing the non-covalent complex’s gas-phase dissociation processes. From the experimental data, it is concluded that the stability of RNAse S in the gas phase is independent of its in-solution equilibrium but is sensitive to the complexes’ gas-phase charge states. Bio-computational in-silico studies explained quantitative experimental data with single amino acid residue resolution. 

     ii. Africa-Ready Malaria Screening (ARMS).

This research focused on the mass spectrometric characterization of the MSP119 antigen to antiMSP119 (G17.12) monoclonal antibody interaction. The malarial antigen-containing fusion protein, MBP-pfMSP119, was cloned in Escherichia coli, which was structurally and functionally characterized before and after high pressure–assisted enzymatic digestion. ITEM-THREE was used to determine the area on the MBP-pfMSP119 antigen surface recognized by the antipfMSP119 antibody G17.12, which was part of an assembled epitope on the MBP-pfMSP119 antigen. This research established a workflow to obtain high quality control data for diagnostic assays, including ITEM-THREE as a powerful analytical tool. Further studies are being conducted on the computational design of MSP119 malaria antigen mimotope peptide and mass spectrometric characterization of molecular details of the predicted mimotope peptide as well as mass spectrometric investigations of antibody complexes to gain experimental details of specificity and affinity. Commercially available antibody for the detection of MSP119-specific malaria antigen in patients’ sera by ELISA will then be applied. Finally, developing the MSP119 malaria antigen mimotope peptide as a screening assay to determine the presence of anti-malaria antibody titers in persons who have gained immuno-protection either via vaccination or naturally will be conducted.

   2. Quality assessment of orthodox, and herbal medicinal products.

       i. Screening methods for the detection of substandard/falsified medicines.

The goal of this study was to use combined screening methods for the rapid detection of substandard/falsified medicines since it has become a global public health challenge. This study used three screening methods (GPHF Minilab, Colorimetry, and Counterfeit Drug Indicator) and one confirmatory method (high-performance liquid chromatography) for the quality assessment of different batches of artemether/lumefantrine dosage forms. The study's outcome showed that the combined screening methods and the confirmatory method provided equivalent quality assessment profiles and therefore demonstrated the usefulness of combined screening methods for the detection of falsified and/or substandard medicines in the absence of a confirmatory method. This approach is cheap, rapid, and can be applied to field monitoring substandard/falsified medicines.

       ii. Quality assessment of herbal medicinal products.

Studies undertaken in this area assessed the quality of herbal medicinal products. These studies focused on a) the determination of residual solvents in herbal medicinal products using gas chromatography, b) monitoring and risk assessment of pesticide residues in herbal medicinal products using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, c) classification of herbal medicinal products using XRF spectroscopy in combination with chemometric analysis, and d) classification and detection of expired antimalarial herbal medicinal product using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and chemometrics. These studies documented the presence of residual solvents and pesticide residues in some herbal medicinal products in Ghana. Also, these studies showed that analytical methods combined with a chemometric strategy could be used for a) the classification and detection of antimalarial herbal medicinal products and b) the classification of herbal medicinal products into various therapeutic agents based on their elemental composition. These studies suggested the need for continual monitoring of contaminants in herbal medicinal products as a public health concern and the potential need for more stringent regulation of herbal medicinal products marketed in Ghana.

3. Pharmacokinetics studies of drug-drug, and drug-herb interaction.

This research focused on applying analytical methods for pharmacokinetics studies of drugs and drug-drug interaction. This work focused on the pharmacokinetics of drugs using animal models. The studies documented the effect of a) betamethasone on the pharmacokinetics of amikacin, b) aminophylline on the pharmacokinetics of amikacin, and c) the effect of Cellgevity® on the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine. Results from the studies showed a) the possible interaction between aminophylline and amikacin, b) betamethasone altered the pharmacokinetics of amikacin, and c) Cellgevity® altered the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine. 

Education

Mar 2017                     Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (Summa cum laude), Proteome Center Rostock, Institute of Immunology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.

Dec 2004                     Master of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control (MSc), Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Mar 2002                     Certificate in Management of Drug Supplies (Cert), Robert Gordon University, Scotland.

Jul 2001                       Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm), Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Research Experience

May-Jul 2019              Post-Doctoral Fellow, Proteome Center Rostock, Institute of Immunology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.

Teaching Experience

Feb 2022                     Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

July 2017                     Senior Lecturer, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Mar 2017                     Lecturer, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Aug 2010                    Assistant Lecturer, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Administrative Experience

Aug 2021 to date        Coordinator, PharmD Top Up Programme, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

2020 - 2022                 Head, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

10-14 Feb 2020           Acting Dean, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

2018 - 2020                 Acting Head, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

2016 - 2018                 Coordinator, Seminar and Students Project, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.

Publications

  1. Bekoe SO, Asare-Nkansah S, Opuni KFM2022. Analytical techniques for therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical toxicology. In: Amponsah SK, Pathak YV (eds) Recent advances in therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical toxicology. Springer, Cham, pp 9-12 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12398-6_2
  2. Bekoe SO, Asare-Nkansah S, Opuni KFM 2022. Quality assurance of samples for therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical toxicology. In: Amponsah SK, Pathak YV (eds) Recent advances in therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical toxicology. Springer, Cham, pp 161-164 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12398-6_10
  3. Afful EY, Frimpong-Manso S, Bekoe SO, Barfi CO, Opuni KFM, Oppong MB, 2022. The unethical use of paracetamol as a food tenderizer in four selected African countries: A major public health concern. Drug Metabolism and Metabolism Letters, 15, 159-165. https://doi.org/10.2174/2949681015666220810125820
  4. Boateng AA, Sumaila S, Lartey M, Oppong MB, Opuni KFM, Adutwum LA 2022. Evaluation of chemometric classification and regression models for the detection of syrup adulteration in honey. LWT-Food Science Technology, 163, 113498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2022.113498
  5. Glocker MO, Opuni KFM, Thiesen HJ 2022. From free binding energy calculations of SARS-CoV-2 receptor interactions to cellular immune response processes. Medicina (Lithuania), 58, 226.  https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58020226
  6. Bekoe SO, Orman E, Adjabui SA, Brobbey AA, Oppong-Kyekyeku J, Opuni KFM, Kuntworbe N, Asare-Nkansah S 2022. Development and validation of an ion-pair HPLC-UV method for the quantitation of quinoline and indoloquinoline alkaloids in herbal and pharmaceutical antimalarial formulations. J Chem, Volume 2022, Article ID 4625954, 11 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/4625954
  7. Amponsah SK, Boadu JA, Dwamena DK, Opuni KFM 2022. Bioanalysis of aminoglycosides using high performance liquid chromatography. ADMET and DMPK, 10, 27-66.  https://doi.org/10.5599/admet.1183
  8. Kretchy IA, Boadu JA, Kretchy JP, Agyabeng K, Passah AA, Koduah A, Opuni KFM 2021. Utilization of complementary and alternative medicine for the prevention of COVID-19 infection in Ghana: A national cross-sectional online survey. Prev Med Rep, 24 (2021) 101633 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101633
  9. Koy C, Opuni KFM, Danquah BD, Neamtu A, Glocker MO 2021. Mass spectrometric and bio-computational binding strength analysis of multiply charged RNAse S gas-phase complexes obtained by electrospray ionization from varying in-solution equilibrium conditions. Int J Mol Sci, 221, 183. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221910183
  10. Mensah J, Brobbey AA, Addotey JN, Ayensu I, Asare-Nkansah S, Opuni KFM, Adutwum LA 2021. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and chemometric strategy enables the classification and detection of expired antimalarial herbal medicinal product in Ghana. Int J Anal Chem, Volume 2021, Article ID 5592217. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5592217
  11. Opuni KFM, Asare-Nkansah S, Osei-Fosu P, Akonnor A, Oppong-Bekoe S, Dodoo ANO 2021. Monitoring and risk assessment of pesticide residues in selected herbal medicinal products in Ghana. Environ Monit Assess, 193, 470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-09261-1
  12. Opuni KFM, Togoh G, Frimpong-Manso S, Adu-Amoah D, Omotayo A, Boateng KP 2021. Monitoring of residual solvent contamination in herbal medicinal products in Ghana: A pilot study. Sci Afr, 13, e00825. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2021.e00825
  13. Opuni KFM, Boadu JA, Amponsah SK, Okai CA 2021. High-performance liquid chromatography: A versatile tool for assaying antiepileptic drugs in biological matrices. J Chromatogr B, 1179, 122750. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jchromb.2021.122750
  14. Kretchy IA, Koduah A, Opuni KFM, Agyabeng K, Ohene-Agyei T, Boafo EA, Ntow PO 2021. Prevalence, pattern and beliefs about use of herbal medicinal products in Ghana: A multi-center community-based cross-sectional study. Trop Med Int Health, 26, 410-420. https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13541
  15. N’guessan BB, Asiamah AD, Arthur NK, Frimpong-Manso S, Patrick Amoateng P, Amponsah SK, Kukuia KE, Sarkodie JA, Opuni KFM, Asiedu-Gyekye IJ, Appiah-Opong R 2021. The ethanolic extract of Nymphaea lotus L. (Nymphaeaceae) leaves exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities on Jurkat and MCF-7 cancer cell lines in relation to its phytochemical and elemental contents. BMC Complement Med Ther, (2021) 21:22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-03195-w
  16. Danquah BD, Opuni KFM, Röwer C, Koy C, Glocker MO 2020. Mass spectrometric analysis of antibody – epitope peptide complex dissociation: Theoretical concept and practical procedure of binding strength characterization. Molecules, 25, 4776.  https://doi:10.3390/molecules25204776
  17. Opuni KFM, Koy C, Ruß M, Reepmeyer M, Danquah BD, Weresow M, Alef A, Lorenz P, Thiesen HJ, Glocker MO 2020. ITEM-THREE analysis of a monoclonal anti-malaria antibody reveals its assembled epitope on the pfMSP119 antigen. J Biol Chem, 295, 14987-14997. https://doi:10.1074/jbc.RA120.014802
  18. Amponsah SK, N’guessan BB, AkandawenM, Aning A, Agboli SY, Danso EA, Opuni KFM, Asiedu-Gyekye IJ, Appiah-Opong R 2020. Effect of 30-day administration of Cellgevity® supplement on selected rat liver cytochrome P450 enzyme activity and possible supplement interaction with carbamazepine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, Volume 2020, Article ID 7956493, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7956493
  19. Danquah BD, Yefremova Y, Opuni KFM, Röwer C, Koy C, Glocker MO 2020. Intact transition epitope mapping - Thermodynamic weak-force order (ITEM - TWO). J Proteomics, 212, 103572.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jprot.2019.103572
  20. Opuni KFM, Nettey H, Larbi MA, Amartey SNA, Nti G, Dzidonu A, Owusu-Danso P, Owusu NA, Nyarko AK 2019. Usefulness of combined screening methods for rapid detection of falsified and/or substandard medicines in the absence of a confirmatory method. Malar J, 18, 1-10.  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-019-3045-y
  21. Opuni KFM, Laar A, Arhinful K 2019. Health commodities and technology, in Adanu RMK (ed.) The State of the Nation’s Health Report 2018. Accra: University of Ghana, pp 95-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2022.113498
  22. Danquah BD, Röwer C, Opuni KFM, El-Kased RF, Frommholz D, Illges H, Koy C, Glocker MO 2019. Intact transition epitope mapping - Targeted high-energy rupture of extracted epitopes (ITEM-THREE). Mol Cell Proteomics, 18, 1543-1555. https://doi.org/10.1074/mcp.RA119.001429
  23. Amponsah SK, Opuni KFM, Antwi KA, Kunkpeh VP 2019. Effect of aminophylline on the pharmacokinetics of amikacin in Sprague-Dawley rats. J Infect Dev Ctries, 13, 251-254. https://doi:10.3855/jidc.10514
  24. Amponsah SK, Opuni KFM, Donkor AA 2018. Animal model investigation suggests betamethasone alters the pharmacokinetics of amikacin. ADMET and DMPK, 6, 279-283.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5599/admet.613
  25. Yefremova Y, Melder FTI, Danquah BD, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Ehrens A, Frommholz D, Illges H, Koelbel K, Sobott F, Glocker MO 2017. Apparent activation energies of protein-protein complex dissociation in the gas-phase determined by electrospray mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem, 409, 6549-6558.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-017-0603-4
  26. Yefremova Y, Danquah BD, Opuni KFM, El-Kased RF, Koy C, Glocker MO 2017. Mass spectrometric characterization of protein structures and protein complexes in condensed and gas phase. Eur. J. Mass Spectrom, 23, 445-459. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469066717722256
  27. Yefremova Y, Opuni KFM, Danquah BD, Thiesen HJ, Glocker MO 2017. Intact transition epitope mapping. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom, 28, 1612-1622. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13361-017-1654-7
  28. Opuni KFM, Solomon S, Metzen F, Frommholz D, Koy C, Röwer C, Glocker MO, Illges H, Anderson PC 2017. In-silico epitope mapping of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase: A rheumatoid arthritis autoantigen. J Proteomics Bioinform, 10, 60-72. https://doi.org/10.4172/jpb.1000425
  29. Opuni KFM, Al-Majdoub M, Yefremova Y, El-Kased RF, Koy C, Glocker MO 2016. Mass spectrometric epitope mapping. Mass Spectrom Rev, 37, 229-241. https://doi.org/10.1002/mas.21516
  30. Yefremova Y, Al-Majdoub M, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Yan Y, Gross ML, Glocker MO 2016. A dynamic model of pH-induced protein G'e higher order structure changes derived from mass spectrometric analyses. Anal Chem, 88, 890-897. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.5b03536
  31. Yefremova Y, Al-Majdoub M, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Cui W, Yan Y, Gross M, Glocker MO 2015. "De-novo" amino acid sequence elucidation of protein G'e by combined "top-down" and "bottom-up" mass spectrometry. J Am Soc Mass Spectrom, 26, 482-492. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13361-014-1053-2
  32. Al-Majdoub M, Opuni KFM, Yefremova Y, Koy C, Lorenz P, El-Kased RF, Thiesen HJ, Glocker MO 2014. A novel strategy for the rapid preparation and isolation of intact immune complexes from peptide mixtures. J Mol Recognit, 27, 566-574. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmr.2375
  33. Al-Majdoub M, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Glocker MO 2013. Facile fabrication and instant application of miniaturized antibody-decorated affinity columns for higher-order structure and functional characterization of TRIM21 epitope peptides. Anal Chem, 85, 10479-10487. https://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ac402559m
  34. Asare-Nkansah S, Oppong-Bekoe S, Opuni KFM, Kwakye JK 2011. Improving drug quality monitoring in Ghana by ion-pair complex reactions: The case of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride and bromophenol blue. IJPAC, 6, 297-307.

Conferences and Presentations

  1. Tetteh C, Ampomah B, Opuni KFM, Oppong MB, Lartey M, Donkor PO, Adutwum LA. 2022. Re-purposing of anti-infectives for the management of onchocerciasis using machine learning and protein docking studies, Annual Researh Meeting, Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
  2. Opuni KFM, Asare-Nkansah S, Osei-Fosu P, Akonnor A, Bekoe SO, Doodo ANO 2022. Monitoring and risk assessment of pesticide residues in selected medicinal products in Ghana. Africa Food Safety Workshop 2022, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  3. Koy C, Opuni KFM, Danquah BD, Neamtu A, Glocker MO 2022.Mass spectrometric ITEM-TWO investigations and bio-computational analyses of RNase S enable supramolecular complex characterization on the amino acid residue level. 70th Annual Conference of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
  4. Opuni KFM, Danquah BD, Röwer C, Koy C, Lorenz P, Thiesen HJ, Glocker MO 2022. Epitope mapping of pfMSP119 antigen using ITEM-THREE for improved malaria diagnostics. Mass Spectrometry Training, Diaspora Expert Visitation, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana.
  5. Opuni KFM, Kretchy IA, Koduah, A 2021. How to conduct systematic review. PharmD Top-Up Research Retreat, AH hotel, East Legon, Accra, Ghana.
  6. Danquah BD, Röwer C, Opuni KFM, El-Kased RF, Koy C, Glocker MO 2020. Unraveling the three-dimensional molecular recognition codes of experimental and diagnostic antibodies by nanoESI ion mobility mass spectrometry. 68th Annual Conference of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (Virtual Meeting), Houston, Texas, USA.
  7. Danquah BD, Röwer C, Opuni KFM, El-Kased RF, Koy C, Glocker MO 2020. Unraveling the three-dimensional molecular recognition codes of experimental and diagnostic antibodies by mass spectrometry. 53rd German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS) Annual Meetings, Rostock, Germany.
  8. Opuni KFM, Koy C, Danquah BD, Reepmeyer M, Ruß M, Lorenz P, Thiesen HJ, Weresow M, Alef A, Glocker MO 2020. Expression and purification as well as mass spectrometric and immunoanalytical characterization of the MBP-pfMSP119 fusion protein – Towards malaria screening. 68th Annual Conference of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (Virtual Meeting), Houston, Texas, USA.
  9. Koy C, Danquah BD, Reepmeyer M, Ruß M, Lorenz P, Thiesen HJ, Weresow M, Alef A, Glocker MO, Opuni KFM 2020. Intact transition epitope mapping - targeted high-energy rupture of extracted epitopes (ITEM-THREE) of the anti-pfMSP119 antibody – Towards malaria screening. 53rd German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS) Annual Meetings, Rostock, Germany.
  10. Röwer C, Danquah BD, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Glocker MO, El-Kased RF 2020. Intact transition epitope mapping - thermodynamic weak-force order (ITEM-TWO) applied to Troponin I antigen epitopes with single amino-acid residue mutations. 53rd German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS) Annual Meetings, Rostock, Germany.
  11. Opuni KFM, Danquah BD, Röwer C, Koy C, Lorenz P, Thiesen HJ, Glocker MO 2019. Mass spectrometric characterization of the MSP119 to G17.12 antibody interaction: Towards next-generation malaria diagnostics. Restoring Hope Science Conference on Precision Medicine and Allied Topics, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
  12. Opuni KFM, Danquah BD, Röwer C, Koy C, Lorenz P, Thiesen HJ, Glocker MO 2019. Functional and structural characterization of the MSP119 specific monoclonal antibody (G17.12) using mass spectrometry. Proteom-Zentrum Rostock/Institute of Immunology Group Meeting Summer Semester, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
  13. Danquah BD, Röwer C, Opuni KFM, El-Kased RF, Illges H, Koy C, Glocker MO 2019. Intact transition epitope mapping - Targeted high-energy rupture of extracted epitopes (ITEM-THREE). 52nd German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS) Annual Meetings, Rostock, Germany.
  14. Danquah BD, Röwer C, Opuni KFM, El-Kased RF, Illges H, Koy C, Glocker MO 2019. Intact transition epitope mapping - targeted high-energy rupture of extracted epitopes (ITEM-THREE). The 67th Annual Conference of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
  15. Röwer C, Opuni KFM, Nguyen GD, Koy C, Glocker MO 2019. Characterization of specificity determining positions within the HER2-Herceptin epitope using in-silico biocomputational methods. 52nd German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS) Annual Meetings, Rostock, Germany.
  16. Koy C, Danquah BD, Opuni KFM, Röwer C, Glocker MO 2019. Gas Phase binding stability determination of RNAse S by nanoESI MS analysis out of solutions with different methanol contents. 52nd German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS) Annual Meetings, Rostock, Germany.
  17. Danquah BD, Yefremova Y, Koy C, Opuni KFM, Glocker MO 2018. ITEM-TWO: Nano-electrospray mass spectrometry enables simultaneous characterization of specificities and affinities of epitope – antibody complexes in the gas phase. The 66th Annual Conference of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, San Diego, California, USA.
  18. Opuni KFM, Al-Majdoub M, Koy C, Glocker MO 2018. Mass spectrometric higher-order structural and functional characterization of TRIM21 epitope peptides. Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
  19. Opuni KFM, Togoh G, Frimpong-Manso S, Adu-Amoah D, Alkanji O, Boateng KP, Lukulay P 2018. Headspace gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection (HS-FID-GC) suggests the presence of residual solvents in some selected herbal products in Ghana. School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Ghana.
  20. Danquah BD, Yefremova Y, Opuni KFM, Melder FTI, Koy C, Glocker MO 2018. Determination of apparent gas phase activation energies and dissociation constants of epitope peptide – antibody complexes by electrospray-mass spectrometry – ITEM TWO. The 2018 European Mass Spectrometry Conference in collaboration with the 35th French Society for Mass Spectrometry (SFSM) and the 51st German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS) Annual Meetings, Saarbrücken, Germany.
  21. Opuni KFM, Solomon S, Metzen F, Frommholz D, Koy C, Illges H, Anderson PC, Glocker MO 2017. Combined computational-experimental epitope mapping of rheumatoid arthritis human autoantigen glucose-6-phosphate isomerase. School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, Ghana.
  22. Glocker MO, Yefremova Y, Opuni KFM, Thiesen HJ 2017. Intact transition epitope mapping - A mass spectrometric method for accurate, facile, and rapid identification of specific antibody-peptide reactivities. The 50th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS), Kiel, Germany.
  23. Yefremova Y, Melder TFI, Danquah BD, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Koelbel K, Sobott F, Illges H, Glocker MO 2017. Gas phase activation energies of protein-protein interactions determined by electrospray mass spectrometry. The 65th Annual Conference of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
  24. Koy C, Opuni KFM, Solomon S, Metzen F, Frommholz D, Röwer C, Illges H, Anderson PC, Glocker MO 2016. In-silico epitope mapping of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) - A rheumatoid arthritis (RA) autoantigen. The 34th European Peptide Symposium & 8th International Peptide Symposium, Leipzig, Germany.
  25. Yefremova Y, Opuni KFM, Thiesen HJ, Glocker MO 2016. Gas phase epitope mapping-A mass spectrometric method for accurate, facile, and rapid identification of specific antibody-peptide reactivities. The 64th Annual Conference of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
  26. Yefremova Y, Opuni KFM, Danquah BD, Koy C, Glocker MO 2016. Determination of gas phase free energies of protein-protein interactions by ion mobility mass spectrometry. The 23rd Arbeitstagung, Dortmund, Germany.
  27. Yefremova Y, Opuni KFM, Danquah BD, Koy C, Glocker MO 2016. An ion mobility mass spectrometry study on gas phase free energies of protein-protein interactions. The 49th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS), Hamburg, Germany.
  28. Opuni KFM, Metzen F, Frommholz D, Solomon S, Koy C, Illges H, Anderson PC, Glocker MO 2015. In-silico epitope prediction of rheumatoid arthritis autoantigen: Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI). Participants’ Camp Winter Semester, MMRP, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
  29. Opuni KFM, Metzen F, Frommholz D, Solomon S, Koy C, Illges H, Anderson PC, Glocker MO 2015. In-silico epitope mapping: Experiences with the rheumatoid arthritis autoantigen glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI). Biomolecular Recognition and Mass Spectrometry Workshop, Russelsheim, Germany.
  30. Opuni KFM, Solomon S, Koy C, Illges H, Anderson PC, Glocker MO 2015. In-silico epitope mapping of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) - A rheumatoid arthritis autoantigen. University of Washington Bothell, Washington, USA.
  31. Yefremova Y, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Glocker MO 2015. Higher-order structure characterization of protein G´ derivatives by ion mobility MS. MS Technology Days: Open Waters Users Meeting, Berlin and Stuttgart, Germany.
  32. Yefremova Y, Al-Majdoub M, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Yan Y, Gross M, Glocker MO 2015. Probing pH-dependent protein G´e surface topology alterations by fast photochemical oxidation of proteins and mass spectrometry. The 48th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS), Wuppertal, Germany.
  33. Opuni KFM, Solomon S, Yefremova Y, Koy C, Illges H, Glocker MO 2015. Structural and functional characterization of pathogenic GPI-specific monoclonal antibodies αGPI11H3 and αGPI46H9. The 63rd Annual Conference of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
  34. Yefremova Y, Al-Majdoub M, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Yan Y, Gross M, Glocker MO 2015. Ion mobility and surface topology mapping reveals the cause of the protein G-IgG affinity switch. HUPO 2015 World Congress, Vancouver, Canada.
  35. Yefremova Y, Al-Majdoub M, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Cui W, Yan Y, Gross M, Glocker MO 2014. Disclosing the amino acid sequence of a commercially available protein G´. The 4th Symposium on Structural Proteomics, Antwerp, Belgium.
  36. Yefremova Y, Al-Majdoub M, Opuni KFM, Koy C, Yan Y, Rohrs H, Gross M, Glocker MO 2014. Mass spectrometry reveals chemically induced structural changes of protein G´ by which intact immune complexes are released from affinity columns. The 62nd Annual Conference of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
  37. Yefremova Y, Opuni KFM, Glocker MO 2014. How ESI-MS “spray parameters” affect ion yields and charge structures of proteins. AffyMSLifeChem Int. Workshop, Russelsheim, Germany.
  38. Opuni KFM, Al-Majdoub M, Drynda S, Lorenz P, Thiesen HJ, Kekow J, Koy C, Glocker MO 2014. Characterization of epitope peptides by ion-mobility mass spectrometry. Joint DGMS Affinity-MS - Special Interest Group Workshop and Participants’ Camp Summer Semester, MMRP, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
  39. Opuni KFM, Yefremova Y, Koy C, Glocker MO 2014. Characterization of protein complexes by native mass spectrometry. Joint 9th Proteome Forum and Participants’ Camp Winter Semester, MMRP, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
  40. Opuni KFM, Al-Majdoub M, Szydelko A, Drynda S, Lorenz P, Hegglin A, Thiesen HJ, Kekow J, Koy C, Glocker MO 2014. Antibody-antigen interaction studies in “real-time” - first steps with the BR8”. Proteom-Zentrum Rostock/Institute of Immunology Group Meeting Summer Semester, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
  41. Opuni KFM, Al-Majdoub M, Drynda S, Lorenz P, Thiesen, HJ, Kekow J, Koy C, Glocker MO 2014. Epitope peptide validation by affinity mass spectrometry. The 47th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS), Frankfurt, Germany.
  42. Opuni KFM, Drynda S, Lorenz P, Illges H, Thiesen HJ, Kekow J, Glocker MO 2013. Structural and functional characterization of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase autoantigen - antibody interactions. The Joint 8th Proteome Forum Rostock and Participants’ Camp Winter Semester, MMRP, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
  43. Opuni KFM, Al-Majdoub M, Drynda S, Lorenz P, Thiesen HJ, Kekow J, Koy C, Glocker MO 2013. Identification, structural and functional characterization of epitope peptides by affinity mass spectrometry. The 3rd Symposium on Structural Proteomics, Prague, Czech Republic.
  44. Opuni KFM, Drynda S, Lorenz P, Illges H, Thiesen HJ, Kekow J, Glocker MO 2013. A novel method for epitope mapping by affinity mass spectrometry in the fmol range. Participants’ Camp Summer Semester, MMRP, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
  45. Opuni KFM2012. The autoantigen glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) in rheumatoid arthritis. Proteom-Zentrum Rostock/Institute of Immunology Group Meeting Winter Semester, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.
  46. Opuni KFM, Drynda S, Lorenz P, Thiesen HJ, Kekow J, Glocker MO 2012. Using a novel mass spectrometric epitope mapping without immobilization of the antibody to develop a screening procedure in autoimmune patients for personalized therapies. Participants’ Camp Winter Semester, MMRP, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.

Committee Membership

  1. Member, Board of Directors, Defence Industries Holding Company (DIHOC) CAREWORLD Ghana Limited, Accra, Ghana, November 2021 to date.
  2. Jury Member, Falling Walls Lab Ghana 2021, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Accra, Ghana, 28th May 2021.
  3. Member, International Organizing Committee, Restoring Hope Science Conference on Precision Medicine and Allied Topics (RHSC-PM) 2019, jointly organized by Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Ghana and Proteome Center Rostock, University of Rostock, held at Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. 31st October to 1st November 2019. (https://www.rhsc-2019.uni-rostock.de/program/)
  4. Jury Member, Falling Walls Lab Ghana 2020, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Accra, Ghana, 18th September 2020.
  5. Member, PSGH Pharmacy Centre Project Committee, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), 4th December 2019 to date.
  6. Member, Ghana Pharma Awards 2017 Selection Committee, 31st January to 1st February 2018.
  7. Member, Business and Executive Committee, University of Ghana, Legon, 1st August 2020 to July 2022.
  8. Member, Drug Discovery and Development Committee, University of Ghana, May 2020 to date.
  9. Member, Academic Board, University of Ghana, Legon, 1st August 2016 to July 2022.
  10. Member, Newsletter Committee, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, 1st August 2020 to date.
  11. Member, Committee to streamline relationship between ORID and the Colleges / Centres of Excellence in University of Ghana, College of Health Sciences, March to July 2017.
  12. Member, Academic Board, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, 1st August 2016 to July 2022.
  13. Member, UGRC Course Development Committee, School of Pharmacy, February 2020.
  14. Member, Strategic Plan Committee, School of Pharmacy, 26th June to 16th October 2019.
  15. Member, Continuous Professional Development Implementation Committee, School of Pharmacy, 26th April 2019 to date.
  16. Member, School Management Committee (SMC), School of Pharmacy, 1st August 2018 to July 2022.
  17. Member, Research Proposal Review Committee, School of Pharmacy, 1st August 2018 to date.
  18. Member, Implementation Committee for Elective Courses for School of Pharmacy, 2018 to date.
  19. Member, Continuous Professional Development Committee, School of Pharmacy, 26th April to 15th June 2018.
  20. Member, Planning Committee for Designing School of Pharmacy Elective Programme, May to July 2017.
  21. Chairman, Committee to Ascertain Quality and Impact Factors of Publications submitted for promotion, School of Pharmacy, April 2017 to date.
  22. Member, Committee to set up Welfare Fund for the School of Pharmacy, April to July 2017.
  23. Member, Planning Committee for School of Pharmacy Doctor of Pharmacy Special Programme, September to October 2016.
  24. Member, 10th Anniversary Celebrations Planning Committee, School of Pharmacy, September 2016 to February 2018.
  25. Member, School of Pharmacy Board, University of Ghana, September 2011 to February 2012.
  26. Member, Research and Grant Committee, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, June 2018 to date.
  27. Member, Department Teaching Assessment Committee (DTAC), Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, January 2017 to date.
  28. Vice Chairman, School of Pharmacy Welfare Fund, December 2017 to date.
  29. Academic Tutor, School of Pharmacy, University of Ghana, November 2016 to date.
  30. Hall Tutor, Jean Nelson Aka Hall, University of Ghana, Legon, August 2016 to date.
  31. Member, Tutorial Board Committee, Jean Nelson Aka Hall, University of Ghana, Legon, August 2016 to date.
  32. Fellow, Akuafo Hall, University of Ghana, August 2010 to date.

Professional Membership

  1. Member, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), September 2022 to date.
  2. Member, International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID), August 2020 to date.
  3. Returning Expert, Centre for International Migration & Development, CIM (The German Government’s competence centre for international labour mobility), June 2017 to May 2019.
  4. Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), June 2017 to date.
  5. Member, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Alumni, March 2016 to date.
  6. Member, American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS), January 2015 to date.
  7. Member, German Society for Mass Spectrometry (DGMS), March 2014 to date.
  8. Member, University Teachers Association Ghana (UTAG), August 2010 to date.
  9. Member, Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), January 2003 to date.